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Guest post: A Letter to Moms from Julie Tupler, RN

I have revered and respected Julie as the founder of The Tupler Technique® ever since her program helped close the split in my abs that my surrounding fitness communities was ignoring and accepting as “normal.” When I wrote to Julie and asked for a guest post, I never dreamed she’d give me an open ticket. What did I want her to write about? Well, I wanted her to write directly to mommies about her heart for us, of course! Here is the letter and pictures she sent me…

Dear Moms,

“I know you are upset with the way your belly looks and feels. You know something just isn’t right. I know you feel like screaming if just one more person asks you when you are due! You may also have started having back problems, your posture is not so good and in general you just don’t feel good about yourself. You may even be down to your pre-baby weight….but still have your “mummy tummy.” If I could sit down over coffee with you, I would tell you three things. The real cause of your protruding belly, the effects on your body and how to get rid of it once and for all.

Julie works with a mama to find her core

“You have tried dieting and exercise but nothing seems to work. You may have gone to your doctor or midwife to find out what you can do. The usual answer (I have heard from many moms) ranges from surgery to crunches! I am sure you have thought that surgery is just too drastic and not realistic with children. If you tried crunches or situps, I am sure you have discovered not only do they not help…they make your belly worse! I would like to support and encourage you in finding the solution. A solution that will change the way you move your body while participating in your life as a mom.

“So let me begin by telling you that you probably have a medical condition that is causing your protruding belly. It is called a diastasis recti. The word diastasis means separation and recti is the name of the outermost abdominal muscles. So it is a separation of the two outermost muscles. These two muscles are joined by a piece of connective tissue. In the middle of this connective tissue is your belly button. This is a weak spot in your connective tissue. Continuous force and pressure on this weak spot (ie growing uterus during pregnancy or doing lots of crunches) weakens the connective tissue and separates the muscles. These outermost muscles are your support system for both your back and organs. When the muscles separate it compromises the support system for your back and organs because now they are being supported by a weak piece of connective tissue instead of the muscles if they were together. This then is the cause of your back problems, poor posture, gastrointestinal problems, and your protruding belly (which is really your organs not being supported correctly).

Julie has a real heart for moms of multiples, because their diastasis is often bigger.

“Closing a diastasis is all about healing the connective tissue. So for six weeks you have to be really kind to your connective tissue and let it heal as you focus on strengthening your inner most abdominal muscle called the transverse muscle. When people are talking about working the “core” they are talking about this muscle. So while doing my program, I believe it is important not to do any other exercise program other than walking for the first six weeks of the program! In week six of the program, I teach you how to exercise using your strengthened transverse muscle. Healing connective tissue means no intra-abdominal force, pressure or stretching of the connective tissue.

Personal trainers and instructors need to remember that diastasis changes how we train someone.

“I have been treating this condition of diastasis recti with moms during and after pregnancy for over 20 years. This condition of diastasis recti is a common condition causing unpleasant side effects. For some reason it is just neglected by the medical community. Thus why I am writing this blog to give moms an awareness that there IS a program they can do to treat this condition. When teaching pregnant women the Tupler Technique® to help them prepare for labor, I saw that as their bellies got bigger the diastasis was getting smaller. A physical therapist working with me was astounded that this was happening and suggested that I get research. Columbia University Program in Physical Therapy did the research and supported the fact that the woman who had done the Tupler Technique® program during their pregnancy had a smaller diastasis then the control group of women who had not done the program.

“The Tupler Technique ® is 4 steps and progresses over 18 weeks. It is not an overnight process or a quick fix to heal connective tissue. You must be committed to doing all 4 steps of the program. However, within the first three weeks you will see the connective tissue starting to heal and lose inches without having lost any weight. You will then be encouraged to continue with the program. I recommend taking before photos from the front and the side. That way you will see your improvement. I’d like to end by telling all you moms that if you want to start smiling more……. it is time to change your belly.”

Beth Learn

Hi there! I'm the founder and CEO of Fit2B Studio, LLC here at fit2b.com where you are hanging out right now! As you may {or may not} know, we provide home fitness routines and resources for those who wish to get all-over strong starting with their cores! We are your warm up for life, and our mission is "Changing lives one tummy at a time." Why? So you can look better in a swimsuit? Well, that's a lovely side-effect of our workouts, but my heart is to help you be a stronger contributor to your family, community, and world! I believe your core matters because it’s at the middle of you, and you are in the middle of your home which is where your ability to make a difference in this world starts! If your middle is muddled, then everything you’re in the middle of - motherhood, ministry, making dinner (yes I love alliterations) - will be muddled by your middle’s muddling. Say that five times fast. Ha! Anyway, yeah, I live on a little farm in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and two children, 14 chickens, 3 goats, 4 cats, 2 horses, 1 Digory Dog and a Chihuahua named Charlie who is NOT allowed inside for very good reasons. My hobbies include reading very long historical fiction novels, natural homesteading, fermenting foods, race walking, crocheting rag rugs out of t-shirt yarn, a little bit of piano, and OF COURSE lifting heavy things and playing with exercise props! Join me here at Fit2B and find a new perspective on working out that will create lasting changes in your body and mind!

The information included on this website and its videos has been written by Beth Learn.
She is not able to provide you with medical advice. You may use this information as a guide. You cannot hold Beth Learn or Fit2B liable in any way for any injuries that may occur whilst training.